波乱

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: It is read はらん. 波 contributes waves and 乱 disorder, forming a word for unexpected turns that disturb the course of events.
• Basic usage: It describes unexpected developments in a game or the ups and downs of someone's life.
  • 試合は予想外の波乱に満ちていた。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Turbulence rather than change alone
  • 変化 broadly names a change of state, while 波乱 emphasizes disruptive events or twists in what might otherwise be a smooth course.